Writer’s Window: Nancy Moser

Joining us today for Writer’s Window is historical fiction and romance author Nancy Moser.

One lucky commenter* will win a signed copy of Nancy’s latest release, An Unlikely Suitor. Deadline for leaving a comment to enter the drawing is Friday. To enter the drawing, you must answer the question posed by Nancy at the end of the interview. Only one comment per person will count toward the drawing. Please do not include your e-mail address in the body of your comment—just make sure it’s correct when you sign in to leave your comment. The winning name will be drawn next weekend and the winner will be notified via e-mail.

*U.S. residents only, void where prohibited. If you win the drawing, you will be ineligible for the next three drawings, though hopefully you will still come back and join in the discussion.

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Lucy Scarpelli, an Italian dressmaker from New York, befriends socialite Rowena Langdon as she’s making her summer wardrobe. It’s an unlikely friendship, but one that Rowena encourages by inviting Lucy to the family mansion in Newport, Rhode Island. Grateful for Lucy’s skill in creating clothes that hide her physical injury, Rowena encourages Lucy to dream of a better future. One day Lucy encounters an intriguing man on the Cliff Walk, and love begins to blossom. Yet Lucy resists, for what man will accept her family responsibilities? Rowena also deals with love as she faces a worrisome arranged marriage to a wealthy heir. And Lucy’s teenage sister, Sofia, takes up with a man of dubious character. All three women struggle as their lives, and those of each unlikely suitor, become intertwined in a web of secrets and sacrifice. Will any of them find true happiness?

Welcome, Nancy!
What do you like best about being a writer?

The chance to be creative and escape into a world of my own making—where I’m the boss!

What do you like least about being a writer?

The insecurity. I’ll put my entire heart into a story, spend hundreds of hours on it, create a website, a blog, be on Facebook, pray, hope . . . and still have no idea whether readers will like it or how it will sell. It feels like I’m throwing it into the wind. And as far as marketing? If writers and publishers knew what worked, every book would be a bestseller. The best thing a reader can do to help their favorite authors to not feel so insecure is to spread the word. Word-of-mouth is a priceless commodity, one that authors really appreciate.

Pop, Soda, or Coke? What do you call it, and what’s your favorite variety?

In the Midwest it’s “pop.” And my favorite is Diet Dr. Pepper.

What’s your favorite dessert?

Chocolate-peanut butter ice cream in an enormous waffle cone.

What’s the most fun/interesting/crazy/scary/unique hands-on research you’ve done for a book?

Actually, the most unique research involves getting the idea for a book. I was in Mozart’s house in Salzburg Austria when I heard the tour guide say, “Many people don’t know this, but Mozart had an older sister who was just as talented as he was, but because she was a woman, she didn’t have the chance to fully develop her talent.” At the time I was only writing contemporary novels, but this one tidbit stuck with me and led directly to me getting my first contract for an historical novel (Mozart’s Sister). It was one of the best career paths I’ve ever taken. I often think of how many things needed to fall into place for me to be in that house, across the world, at the exact time a particular tour guide said the sentence that changed my life. I truly feel it was a God-arranged moment—and opportunity.

What’s your favorite movie from childhood?

Gone with the Wind and Pollyanna. I loved the costumes and drama of GWTW, and was a big fan of all the Hayley Mills movies. There’s a scene in Pollyanna where she strings crystal pendants from a chandelier in a window to create gorgeous prisms. My grandma had a light fixture like that so I copied Pollyanna. It was really beautiful.

If you were to write a novel about what your life would have been like if you’d become what you wanted to be at eight years old, what kind of character would the story be about?

I would have been the president’s daughter. I was fascinated with Caroline Kennedy, who was about my age when her father was in the White House. I remember sitting on our front step, looking at some magazine article (Life magazine?) that had pictures of Caroline with her pony and dancing with John-John in the oval office, with her father looking on, clapping. I thought Caroline lived a charmed life—which obviously wasn’t true. But wouldn’t it make an interesting story: a child with the world at her feet having to deal with great loss, finding her way into womanhood and discovering her purpose? Hmm. Sounds like the story of every-girl.

What makes you happy?

Our kids are all married and live in town, which means our grandkids are close. At least once a month we have everyone to our house for dinner. The happy chaos of hearing the granddaughters clopping around in my heels, our grandson wrestling with the dogs, and our kids scattered over the house enjoying each other’s company . . . those are the moments when I sit back and revel in the miracle of family—and not just family but family that enjoys being together, and can be together, often.

What makes you nervous?

Being late. Or witnessing other people being late. Hence, I’m always early.

What’s your biggest dream for the future?

To write novels until God takes me home. To press SEND on an email sending a complete manuscript to my publisher, and then take a nap where I drift away to heaven.

Tell us about your newest release and what you’re working on now.

Just out is An Unlikely Suitor. It’s a Gilded Age historical romance set in Newport, RI, in 1895. Newport was the town where the Vanderbilt and Astor set spent the summer season in enormous mansions they called “cottages,” and needing dozens of new dresses to go to all the balls and other social events. The story involves an immigrant seamstress in NYC who creates a summer wardrobe for a rich heiress. The two girls from different worlds become close friends, and together, discover true love—and their purpose.

What I’m working on now is a novella for a Christmas anthology with Stephanie Grace Whitson and Judith Miller. My story will be set in the Gilded Age, Steph’s is set in the pioneer/prairie era, and Judy’s is set in the Amana Colonies. All involve quilts. The title is yet to be determined and will be out in 2012.

And be sure to look for Nancy’s book Masquerade:

1886, New York City: Charlotte Gleason, a rich heiress from England, escapes a family crisis by traveling to America in order to marry the even wealthier Conrad Tremaine. She soon decides that an arranged marriage is not for her and persuades her maid, Dora, to take her place. What begins as the whim of a spoiled rich girl wanting adventure becomes a test of survival. As for Dora, she lives a fairy tale complete with gowns, jewels, and lavish mansions–yet is tormented by guilt and the presence of another love that will not die. Will their masquerade be discovered? Will one of them have second thoughts? Will love win out? There is no guarantee the switch will work. It’s a risk. It’s the chance of a lifetime.

Where can people find out more about you/connect with you online?

• Website: www.nancymoser.com
• Historical fiction blog (with author Stephanie Grace Whitson): http://footnotesfromhistory.blogspot.com/
• Website for my speaking and Sister Circle novels: www.sistercircles.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php

Now it’s your turn to ask the question. What question do you want to ask the commenters to answer?

What’s your favorite era of history to read about?

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Nancy Moser is the award-winning author of over twenty inspirational novels about people discovering their unique purpose. Her newest historical romance, An Unlikely Suitor, was just released. Her historical bio-novels allow real women-of-history to share their life stories: Just Jane (Jane Austen), Mozart’s Sister (Nannerl Mozart), Washington’s Lady (Martha Washington), and How Do I Love Thee? (Elizabeth Barrett Browning.) Nancy’s time-travel novel, Time Lottery, won a Christy Award, and Washington’s Lady was a finalist. Her contemporary novels are known for their big-casts and intricate plotting. Some titles are John 3:16, The Sister Circle, and The Invitation. Nancy has earned a degree in architecture, traveled extensively in Europe, and performed in numerous symphonies and choirs. She gives Sister Circle Seminars around the country, paints canes, kills all her houseplants, and can wire an electrical fixture without getting shocked. She’s a fan of anything antique—humans included.